Author ORCID Identifier
Date of Graduation
5-2024
Document Type
Thesis (MS)
Program Affiliation
Neuroscience
Degree Name
Masters of Science (MS)
Advisor/Committee Chair
John Byrne
Committee Member
Valentin Dragoi
Committee Member
Ruth Heidelberger
Committee Member
Neal Waxham
Committee Member
Kartik Venkatachalam
Abstract
Operant conditioning (OC) is a form of associative learning in which an animal modifies its behavior based on the consequences that follow that behavior. Despite its ubiquity, the underlying mechanisms of OC are poorly understood. Insights into the mechanisms of OC can be obtained by studying Aplysia feeding behavior as it can be modified by OC. This behavior is mediated by a central pattern generator (CPG) network in the buccal ganglia that contains a relatively small number of neurons. This CPG generates rhythmic motor patterns (BMPs) that move food into the gut by closing a tongue-like structure (i.e., radula) during the retraction phase of the BMP (Susswein and Byrne, 1988). Recent studies show that OC leads to increased intrinsic excitability in the major retraction motor neurons B6 and B9, while no significant changes were observed in B3 neurons. Using conductance-based modeling, this study examined OC-induced biophysical changes in B6 and B9. Neuron B4 makes an inhibitory chemical synaptic connection and is electrically coupled to B3, B6, and B9 retraction motor neurons. B4 excitability is reduced following OC. Neuron B51 is electrically coupled to B3, B6, and B9. The excitability of B51 is increased following OC. I hypothesized that presynaptic inputs from B4 and B51 premotor neurons are sufficient to account for the firing activity of B3, B6, and B9 during a BMP, and also that changes in excitability of B6 and B9 produced by OC are responsible for changes in B6 and B9 activity during BMPs. Therefore, I developed biophysical models of B3, B6, and B9 by incorporating ionic currents including INa, IKd, IA, IKca, and Ileak. I incorporated these conductance-based models, and synaptic connections from B4 and B51, into the existing computational model of the CPG circuit and examined neuronal activity during simulated buccal motor programs (BMPs) and OC. However, simulations revealed that these synaptic connections did not drive firing in B3, B6, and B9. This finding indicates there must be other, not yet identified, neurons that drive B3, B6, and, B9. Therefore, I included an artificial synapse to help drive firing in these neurons. Simulations including this synapse suggested that alterations in motor neuron activity post-OC are produced by the changes in excitability of B6 and B9. This study provides important extensions to the existing model of the CPG and elucidates principles of the relationship between neuron circuitry and motor output, advancing our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying operant conditioning and their impact on motor neuron function.
Keywords
computational, neuroscience, motor neurons, Aplysia, operant conditioning, buccal ganglia, CPG, Feeding behaviors, radula, protraction, retraction, bmps, ingestion, rejection
Included in
Behavioral Neurobiology Commons, Cognitive Neuroscience Commons, Computational Neuroscience Commons, Developmental Neuroscience Commons, Integrative Biology Commons, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Commons, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons, Other Cell and Developmental Biology Commons, Other Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons, Systems Neuroscience Commons